If Clegg sides with the Tories I don't think I will be voting Lib again

[Loujalou]

Anyone got any thoughts on this. Hopefully it looks like he will side with Labour. But if he went Blue that would be it.

He is for a PR, anything other than support for 'the winner' would have been against his own bleetings. He couldn't do anything other than support who the majority support.

No - Labours vote is utterly unimpressive too. But the fact is the LibDem vote is more unimpressive in the context of the polls a few weeks ago and their expectations. So all the swell of LibDem support was somewhat meaningless and anyone stating now that they will not vote for them again if they form a Conservative alliance is also meaningless.

I would be happy if Clegg supported the Tories.

I voted LibDem but agree with some of the Tory policies.

I do not want labour in power.

What EVye said.

I actually think a position where we have Conservative small-govt, lower-spending policies, but tempered by Lib Dem humanity and protection for the poorest, could work reasonably well.

What minipie said.

Didn't think much of DC's offer to Clegg.

Clegg, I know you will inevitably be turning to MN for advice as you pace the back room deciding what to do before your next press conference.

My advice:
*tell Cameron you're pleased he's suggested he can work with you - many points of agreement on economy etc
*but with respect he needs to do better than that on electoral reform before you can help him
*but take care not to sound too militant and add that you also want a quick resolution to talks - but that quick does not equate to Lib Dems caving in on a key point of principle

What would others advise Cleggy to say now?

Fair enough that he's unwilling to form an agreement with Labour in that they're not the voters' favourite. However (and I don't understand the issues here) why can't he withhold support from the Tories too? The LDs will be enjoying the unfamiliar power I suppose, but I would take my vote elsewhere in future if Clegg allies with Cameron.

He can, and he probably will unless the Tories offer PR as part of the deal (and I can't see that DC will be able to get PR past the rest of the party). Commentators earlier were suggesting that the LibDems might agree to abstain on a Conservative Queen's Speech and/or Budget but make the Conservatives operate a minority government apart from that.

EVye

Hope you won't object if I also agree with mrsbaldwin

This was always going to be the final outcome. I would rather have a coalition than a weak minority government for a year or so as this will just destabilise the country and will not aid economic recovery.

I do not think a Lab/Lib coalition is workable looking at the numbers really.

I would never vote Lib Dem again if this happens

Clegg and Cameron are cut from the same political cloth!! No one should be surprised that NC is now talking about doing a deal with DC.

Dueling you can join me then.

Ditto DF

If people had known this was on the cards the whole thing would have been different.Clegg is losing credibility by the minute

noddyhholer, but NC as much as said that he'd back Tories (along the lines of "in the event of no outright majority, the party with the greatest number of votes should get to govern".

But didn't Clegg say all along that the party with the most votes should be given the chance to form a Govt. And by necessity that must include talks with the minority parties among whom the LibDems are clearly the most powerful.

Did LibDem voters really not understand this? Because if not perhaps you shou;dn't vote again. At all.

precisely, Aussieng

BUT the policies that cameron has picked out of the Lib Dem manifesto for 'discussion' are all a bit wishy washy and I would think the policies that attracted votes to Clegg were not those!

"Did LibDem voters really not understand this? Because if not perhaps you shou;dn't vote again. At all."

I voted in a constituancy where Lib Dem were going to get in whatever I did. I voted for an MP I like (Lib Dem) but never did I imagine that, given the choice between Labour or Conservative, the Lib Dems would jump into bed with the tories!

If it does happen I will vote Labour next time as a protest regardless of how much I like the MP we have just voted in in cardiff Central.

noddyholder, yes, that's where all the horse-trading, negotiating, pleading, deal-broking, etc etc etc comes in. What DC is willing to offer and what NC's bottom line is.

To repeat (yes, sound like a broken record) this is exactly why I didn't want a hung parliament. It just takes up too much precious time and energy when I'd really prefer someone to take office and GOVERN.

How can you reconcile things like trident,tuition fees ,PR etc when they are your main policies?Farcical

Respectfully DF - you should have imagined it. NC would have done the LibDems a bigger favour if he had just acknowledged that the LibDem's and Labour are idealogically closer than LibDem's and Tory. He hedged his bets and now he has a choice of doing what is best for the LibDems (as Labour will probably give them the electoral reform they want) and doing the right thing (being doing what he said he would do). Badly played in view of the results but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Noddy - maybe you say that I can get 0% of what I want because I am head of a minority party or I can at least get 5% of what I want?
At the moment joining with Lab will get LibDem's nowhere as there still will not be a majority.

Nope don't agree, he's selling out.